Time for a Laugh, Courtesy of TripAdvisor

If there's one thing we've learned as parents, it's that you should always make time for a laugh. It's rather easy to get caught up in supposedly important details, things that have to be dealt with right now and with all due seriousness. We often sweep our children along for the ride as well, expecting them to hurry up, stop fooling around, and take things seriously so that we can get to the car/dance class/soccer game/grandma's house.

But we say, slow down a bit; there is always something to laugh at, and always time for a chuckle, whether it's your kids, or TripAdvisor's blog, We Are Not Making This Up, where they have posted some of the most hilarious and previously unpublished posts they've ever received. If you're not familiar with TripAdvisor, the website allows travelers to post reviews of hotels, cities, and restaurants they've visited. Of course, with travelers of varying expectations from all across the world posting reviews, some of the posts can get pretty funny, and we've learned to take many of them with about a pound of salt. Since we've cracked up at some of the reviews that has been published, we didn't imagine that there were actually worse howlers. We promise you, there are. Two of our faves, printed exactly as they appear on the blog:

"WE are planning a trip to USA my husband has a criminal record from 1976 it is not a good one but since has not had one When we went down to our local police station they told us the finger print they do at USA airport isn't linked to our system we are wondering is it worth the $500.00 they want to get a visa and record sheet or just tick no"

and this one:

"I dont't remember becoming a member of this Whatever it is, I don't even understand what it is about nor do I wish to so stop sending Junk mail to me.

Unless of course it will increase my sales of curtain poles but I doubt that."

What does this have to do with luxury family vacation ideas? Take a breather - there's loads of info in the archives to the right on everything from all-inclusive family vacations to babymoon ideas. For now, sit back and have a laugh. Like that family vacation you're planning, you deserve it.